Supersensitive fuse



' March 11, 1924; msmw J. H. WOODBERRY SUPERSENSITIVE FUSE Filed Dec. 10, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mach 1 1 1924; V 1 #135,177

' JE+\NOODBERRY SUPERSENSITIVE FUSE Filed De 10, 1918 4 sheets-sheei 2 A \V v i mmwfoz Filed Dec. 10, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 amveufmz I March 11, 1924.

J. H. WOODBERRY SUPERSENSITIVE FUSE Filed Dec. 10, 1918 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented at.

ii, 192a.

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JOHN H. WOODBERBY, OF THE UNITED STATES ABBEY.

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' Application filed December 10, 1918. Serial Ito. 2%,142'.

(FILED UNDER THE AGT 0 EABKJH 3, 18%3, 22, TAT. L, 532:3.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. lVooDnnRnr, major, Ordnance Department, United States Army, a citizen of the United States, stationed at lVa-shington, District of Columbia, have invented an Improvement in Supersensitivc Fuses, of which the following is a specification. I

The invention herein described may be used by the Government, or any of its officers or emplo'yes, in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without the payment of any royalty thereon.

The present invention has reference to fuses for explosive projectiles, particularly of the smallercalibers used in automatic guns forming a part of aeroplane armament, and used at short range.

The object of my invention is to provide a super-sensitive fuse, possessing few parts, which is simple in construction and positive in action, and which contains a bore safety feature and a novel means of destroying the fuse before the. projectile reaches the ground, in case the projectile does not come in contact with the object at which it is fired.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of my specification, I have disclosed an exemplary embodiment of my invention capable of carrying out the underlying principles thereof. The several views may be briefly described as follows:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section of a fuse embodying my improvements, the parts thereof being shown in the normal position before the fuse leaves the bore of the gun;

Fig. 2' is a transverse section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the impact cup carrying the percussion hammer or firing pin;

Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the fuse, showing the position of the parts thereof after impact of the cup with the objective;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view, on the line 55, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view, on the line 6-6, Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of the fuse, showing the position of the parts thereof when the projectile misses its objective and the mechanism is operative to cause destruction of the projectile.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on the line 88, Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows; and i Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing an anti-aircraft gun firing at an aeroplane.

Referring now in detail to the drawings:

The fuse body comprises, as shown, a cylindrical portion 1 provided with a rear end wall 2 projecting beyond said cylindrical portion to form an annular flange 3. The fuse body carries at the rear of said wall 2, the booster 4 containing the booster charge 5 of highly explosive material. The end wall 2 is provided with an eccentrically disposed port or vent 6 extending therethrough and communicating with the booster 5 as shown. Internally of said flange 3 is a concentric ring chamber 7 containing powder and constituting a powder time train ring. Communicating with said powder train ring is a pocket 8 in the flange 3, which extends through the front face of said flange. Seated in said pocket 8 is a primer 9. Also communicating with said powder time train ring 7 is a powder-containing passage 10 extending radially of the wall 2 and branched at one end thereof as shown at 11 to extend transversely through the front face of said wall.

Enclosing the cylindrical portion 1 of the fuse body is a shell 12, of annular crosssectional shape, and conveniently held on said cylindrical portion by having one of its marginal edges upset, as shown at 13, and seated against the forward end of said cylindrical portion, the other end of said shell seating against the peripheral face of the flange 3, as shown. Between the shell 12 and the cylindrical portion 1 of the fuse is a split ring 15, having a sharp annular concentric flange 16 on its rear face.

Bearing against the front face of the wall 2 is a rotatable turret 17, comprising a disc concentrically disposed within the cylindrical portion 1. The turret carries, in its axial portion, a primer 18 and, adjacent thereto, an eccentrically positioned detonator 19, the latter being so disposed with relation to the vent 6 that, in the rotation of said turret, the detonator will be brought into register with the vent, as shown in Figs. 4. and 7 The turret is also provided with a radial flash passage 20, having a branch 21 adapted, in the rotation of the turret, to be brought into register with the branch 11 of the powder pocket 10. The said branches 21 and 11 are brought into register simultaneously with the registration of the detonator 19 and the vent 6.

Suitable means are provided for automatically rotating the turret, and, in this instance, I have shown a watch spring 22, one end thereof being secured to the cylindrical portion 1 of the fuse-casing, as shown at 23, Fig. 8, and the other end thereof being secured to said turret, as shown at 24, Figs. 2 and 8.

Suitable means are provided for normally holding the turretv with the spring wound, and in this instance, I have shown the turret provided with a peripheral pocket 25, Fig. 1, in which is normally seated a spherical body 26 projecting through an aperture 27 in the cylindrical portion 1. In the normal position of the parts, the split ring yieldingly bears upon the said spherical body 26, as shown in Fig. 1, thus preventing the escape or accidental release of said body. To prevent accidental rearward movement of the ring 15 the-rear inner circumferential edge thereof is provided with an annular shoulder which bears against a complemental annular shoulder 91 on the interior surface of the stationary cylindrical member 1. The ring is thus locked against rearward movement, except when expanded. v

Screwed on the threaded forward end of the cylindrical portion 1 is a cap 28 provided with an axial plunger-guiding sleeve or bearing tiof1.. The turret 17 is provided with an axial hub or annular flange 34, on its front face, said hub being provided with a diametric recess extending inward from the front end of said hub and of such shape as to accommodate therein the stem 33 of the plunger 30, when the turret is rotated to bring said stem and recess int-o registry.

In the normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 1, the recess 35 in the hub 34 of the turret is out of registry with the stem 33 of the plunger 30, in other words, the stem spans and projects across the recess 35 and rests on the solid portion of the hub on each side of said recess, thereby preventing the plunger moving rearward to engage the primer 18. When the turret is released, by the locking member 26 moving outward under centrifu al force, it is rotated by the spring 22 to bring the recess 35 into registry with the stem 33, so that the latter may enter the former, a suitable stop being provided to limit rotation of the turret at such point.

The plun er 30 is provided with a hollow, longitudina ly extending, cylindrical portion 36 extending from the front end thereof to the rear end of the pin 31; and the wall of such cylindrical portion 36 is provided,'at diametrically opposite points, with.

longitudinally extending slots 37. Projecting through said slots and transversely through the bearing 29 and being seated at its ends in the cap 28 is a pin 38, limiting movement of the plunger in both directions, and preventing rotation of same.

The forward end of the plunger is provided with an outward projecting and in-' ward curved flange 39, which is circular in cross section, and which terminates in a cylindrical portion 40 bearing against the wall of a ring-shaped air-chamber or pocket 41, in said cap 28, the flange 39 constituting an impact nose. The cylindrical portion 40 of the flange 39 is provided with recesses 42, 42, extending from the free edge of said portion 40. The normal position of the plunger 30 is as shown in Fig. 1, in which the rear end wall of the slots 37 bear against the pin 38. While I have in the drawings shown two recesses 42, it will be understood that any suitable number thereof may be employed. In the normal position of the parts, as shown in Fig. 1, the front ends of the recesses 4.2and of the slots 37 are in advance of the front end of the cap 28.

Having thus fully described the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts of my device, the operation of the fuse, as an entirety, will now be described.

When the shell carrying the fuse is fired, the shock of discharge causes the split ring 15 to move relatively to the rear, the ring expanding to disengage the same from the locking shoulder 91. is consequently released andsimultaneously the primer 9- is fired, by the sharp edge 16 of the ring" driving thereinto, thus igniting the time train ring 1. The looking member 26 then flies outwardly under the action of centrifugal force, unlocking the turret. Under the action of the spring 22, the turret tends to rotate relatively to the shell and in the same direction, butthis movement is prevented while the shell is travelling in the bore by the inertia of the turret. Before the spring commences to unwind, the turret 17 is in such a position that the detonator 19 is out of registry The locking ball 26 vent *6 leading to'the booster charge contact with the turret-primer 18.

in the booster 4 and the branch 21 of the flash assage 20 is also out of; registry with t e branch 11 of'the powder-passage 10 (seeFigs. l and 5).

Should, a premature explosion of the turret primer or detonator .occur while the turret is in this position, the detonation would not be transmitted to the other explosives in the booster andshell, and consequently no damage to the gun would result. This arrangementinsures safety durstorage, transportation, and firing.

e unwinding of the spring 22 rotates the turret to bring the same into the sition shown in Fig. 7 (see also Fig. 6 in which position it will be noticed that the detonator registers with the vent 6, and the branch 21 of the flash passage 20 with the branch 11 of the powder chamber 10.

The rotation of the turret, aforesaid, also brings the recess 35 in the front face thereof into registry with the stem 33 of the firingpin plunger 30, so that the said stem may enter said recess to bring the firing pin into However, thefiring pin or percussion hammer 31 is temporarily prevented from strikin said primer by the static air pressure, whic is devoloped under the flange 39 of the plunger, the air rushing into the V hollo'w portion 36- of the plunger and thence through the slots 37 into the air chamber 41, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 7 The static pressure, exerting'a constant force in all directions, overcomes dynamic pressure on the exterior face of the flange or nose 39 of the plunger, since the ogival shape serves to deflect part. of the force of the air current. The static pressure, therefore, holdsthe firing pin out of contact with the turret rimer, while the. projectile is in flight. tact with any object having an appreciable resistance to impact such as an aeroplane fabric, before the flame of the burning powder-train in the ring 7 reaches the turretprimer 18, the impact will drive the firing plunger 30 rearward as shown in Fig. 4, so that the firing-pin 31 is driveninto the turret-primer 18, which, in turn, explodes the detonator 19, causing a detonation of the booster charge 5 and, consequently, of the shell charge.

Since projectiles carrying this form of fuse are used at short range, for instance, being discharged from one aeroplane against another, and as aerial combats frequently take place over cities or troops, it is desirable to have the shell destroy itself before reaching the ground, after a short flight, provided the target is not struck. As soon as the gun is fired, therefore, the split ring 15, by reason of setback, that is, its inertia, moves rearward, releasing the ball 26 ut, if the projectile comes in conand also driving the sharp edge 16 of the ring into the primer 9, exploding the same. When the primer 9 is ex loded, the powder train in the ring pocket% is ignited. This powder train burns a short time,for instance, six or eight seconds-so that, if the projectile misses its mark (such as an aeroplanegl, the burning powder in the train will s ortly reach the branch 21 of the flash passage 20, through the powder chamber 10, and the flash will pass to the turret primer 18, firing the same and causing the detonation of the turret-detonator 19, whence the flash passes through the vent 6 to the booster charge and thevbooster 5, thus causing the destruction ofthe projectile.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fuse for projectiles, a primer, a rotatable member normally closing com munication between the primer and the charge ina projectile and movable to establish such communication, a detonator carried by the rotatable member, and means for normally locking said member against rotation including means for priming the primer.

2. In a fuse for projectiles, a primer, means normally closing communication between the primer and a charge in a projectile and movable to establish such communication, said means including a detonator, and means for normally locking such first mentioned means including means for priming'the primer.

3. In a fuse for projectiles, a primer, and means for exploding the charge in a projectile includinga relatively stationary portion having a passage way or passage ways for communicating the detonating wave to the explosive in a shell, a relatively rotata-. ble member provided with a passage way or passage ways adapted to be placed in alinement with the passage way or passage ways in the relatively stationary member, a detonator carried by the rotatable member, and means for normally preventing alinement of the passage way or passage ways including means for priming theprimer.

4. In a fuse for projectiles, a primer, and means for exploding the charge in a projectile, including a relatively stationary portion having a passage way or passage ways for communicating the detonating'wave to the explosive in a shell, a relatively rotatable member provided with a passage way or passage ways adapted to be placed in alinement with the passage way or passage ways in. the relatively stationary member, a detonatorcarried by the rotatable member, centrifugally releasable means for nor- .mally preventing alinement of the passage mally locking such centrifugal means including means-for priming the primer.

5. In a fuse projectiles, the combination, with a fuse body, of a rotatable member carrying a primer, means for normally holding said member against rotation, a plunger, carrying a fixed firing-pin, held by said member, in the normal position of the latter, with the firing pin out of contact with said primer, and spring means for rotating said "member to a position to release said plunprlmer,

ger to permit movement tion of the primer.

6. In a fuse'deslgned for use in explosive projectiles, the combination, with a fusethereof in the direcbody, of a rotatable member carrying a p primer, means including a spherical body normally engaging said member, for normally holdin it against rotation, a plunger, carrying a xed firing pin, held by said member, in the normal position of the latter, with the firing-pin out of contact with said and means for rotating said member to a position to release said plunger to permit movement thereof in the direction of the primer. I

7. In a fuse designed for use 'in-explosive projectiles, the combination, with a fusebody, of a' rotatable member carrying a primer, means, including a centrifugally movable spherical body normally engaging said member, for normally holding it against rotation, a plunger, carrying a fixed firingpin, held by said member, in the normal position of the latter, with the firing-pin out ofcontact with said primer, and means for rotating said member to a position to release said plunger to permit movement-thereof in the direction of the primer.

8. In a fuse designed for use in explosive designed for use in explosive ternally thereof explosive material, and provided with a flash passage extending through the member and communicating with said explosive material, said fuse being provided with a port leading to the booster and with a powder train, said member being rotatable to bring said flash passage into registry with said powder train and said explosive material into registry with said port, safety means for normally preventing rotation of said rotatable member, and means carried by said safety means for igniting said powder-' tram.

10. In a fuse, having a booster, the combination, with a rotatable member carrying internally thereof explosive material, and rovided with a flash passage extending through the member and communicating with said explosive material, said fuse being provided with a port leading to the booster and with a powder train, said member being rotatable to bring said flash passage intov registry with said powder train and said explosive material into registry with said port, and safety means for normally preventing rotation of said member, including an annular member carried by said safety means for igniting said powder train.

11. In a fuse having a booster, the combination, with a rotatable member carrying internally thereof explosive material, and

provided with a flash passage extending through the member and communicating with said explosive material, said fuse being provided with a port leading to the booster and with a powder train, said member being rotatable to bring said flash passage into registry with said powder train and said explosive material into registry with said port, safety means for normally preventing rotation of said rotatable member, means carried by said safety means for igniting said powder train, and means for rotating said member.

12. A fuse containing a primer, safety means for said fuse, and an inertia released member normally locking said means provided with means for priming the primer.

-13. A fuse containing a primer, a centrifugally released safety means for said fuse, and inertia released means normally locking said safety means provided with means for priming the primer.

JOHN H. WOODBERRY. 

